Potato-digger



2 Sheets-Sheen l; J. W. COOK.

POTAI'O BIGGER.

(N Model.)

No. 277,461. Patented May 15,1883.

ITI E-lw (No Model.) J W. COOK 2 sheets-411m 2.

` PoTATo BIGGER. No. 277,461. Patented May 15,1883.

| IIIIITIUH I HII illlllllll ll [111mm] N. PUERS. Phewulhugnpher. wamngton. 9.6.

NEE-5155- i I 1 NVENTDF1 wn mmh I M 'To all whom it 'may concern Be it known that LJAMES W. COOK, ot' Mo- `ravia, in the county of Cayuga, in the State of UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES 7. COOK, OF MORAVIA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T()V ERASTUS E. BROWN, OF LINCOLN, NEBRASKA.

`POTATO- DIGG ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 277,461, dated May l5, 1883.

Application filed December 20, 1882. (No model.)

New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Potato-Diggers, of which the following, taken in con neetion with the accompanying drawings, is la full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to that class ot' pota-y y tod1g,g ;'ers in which a concave scoop or digging-blade casts the earth and potatoes toward the center of the row and upon agitators or separators arranged at the rear of the scoop or digger proper. t

My invention consists in certain peculiarities of the construction of the digger proper, and

the combination therewith ot' endless dragchains carried by sprocket-wheels back of the digger, and mechanism for transmitting motion to said sprocket-wheels, thereby rendering the machine more eftectivein its operation ot' digging and separating the potatoes from the earth.

The invention also consists in certain novel means for transmitting motion to the aforesaid sprocket-wheels and chains connected therewith; also, in novel means of adjustably sus- A pending the digger and the separating meollanism from the sulky; and, furthermore, in applying the draft ofthe double-tree to the rear of the digger, and thus removing all obstruction from the front ofthe digger and pushing the same forward to its work, all as hereinafter more fully described, and specifically set forth in the claims. i

The invention is fully illustrated in the annexed drawings,wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved potato-digger;` Fig. 2, a plan view ofthe same with the seatremoved to better illustrate the more essential parts of the machine; and Figs. 3 and et are front and rear end views, respectively, of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A represents the rectangular trame or body of a truck or sulky, mounted on the laxle N, wllich is fixed to the traction-wheels W.

P denotes the pole or tongue, and S the drivers seat.

K is the cutting-blade of the digger, made with its point facing forward and in line with the pole P, so as to enter with its lowest portion the centerof them'row to be dug. The upper ends of the described concave V-shaped digger K are provided with rearwardly-extended side bars,l l, which are supported at their extremities by the following instrumentalities: A y

To the rear portion of the sulky A, at opposite sides thereof, are adjustably connected two pendent bars, a a., to the lower extremity ot' each of which is connected a strut, b,whieh I term the gage-iron, for the reason hereinafter explained, said gage-iron being provided with a series of holes at different points ot its length. Through one of the holes passes a bolt whichclamps the rear end ot' the side bars or di gger-extensions, l. on the side ot' the gageiron, as best seen' in Fig. l of the drawings. ,Y

To the lower extreniity of each of the bars a is-also attached a push-bar, L, which is extended to the digging-blade K, and connected thereto at a point intermediately of the length of its 'two divergent arms, so as to sustain the same "to better resist the strain incident to their being forcedtbrough the ground in the operation ot' digging potatoes.

c o are the draft-chains connected to thev lower portion of the pendent barsa a, and passing over hooks h', attached to the sulkyframe A, and thence to the double-tree T, the draft coming thus directly ou the bars a a, which,by mea-ns ofthe push-bars L L, transmit the force to the cutting or digging blade K and compel the saine to force its way through the ground, the depth of cut being regulated by lengthening or shortening the chains m m at the forward end and lowering or raising thev bars a a at the rear end. The pitch of the digger is adjusted by fastening the rear end ot' the side bars or digger-extensions,l Z, at a higher or lower point on the gage-iron b.

pinion, H, which meshes in the gear D of the shaft B.

G G are the driving-ch ains,'extended around the sprocket-wheels E and F, and receiving motion from the axle N, which is fixed to both the traction-wheel W and sprocket-wheel F,

said motion being transmitted to the shaft B bythe medium of the gears D and H.

l sition.

On .the central portion of the shaft B are firmly secured a series of sprocket-wheels, d

d', and a corresponding number of smaller sprocket-wheels, d d, are connected with the rear of the cutting or digging blade `K by means of clevises u, fastened to saidl blade, and having pivoted in their bifurcated free end the said sprocket-wheels d d in a vertical poe e are endless chains aiplied to the two series of sprocket-wheels d d. The motion of the shaft B, with its sprocket-wheels ol d', be-

ing reversed from-that of the traction-'wheels W by the intervention of the transmittingpinion B,causes the lowerhalt' of the endless chains e to move forward and the upper half of the same rearward. The result of this arrangement is that when the machine is in operation the concave digging-blade breaks up the row to be dug without spreading or casting the same sidewise. rIhe chains e e, moving through the loosened or broken-up row directly back of the digger-blade, rake out the bottom of th erow and carry all coarse substances-such as vines, weeds, potatoes, Ster-back over the wheels d d and deposit said substances on the surface of the row. The shaft B, with its sprocket-wheels and gears, is adjustably sup ported by a crank-shaft, I, which is extended across the top of the sulky-frame A, and provided at opposite ends with anyarm, g, which is connected with the rear end of the arm C, on which the shaft B is journaled, another arm, h, projecting from the crank-shaft I by means of a chain,f, connected with the lower .end of a lever, M, which is fulcrumed on a snitablebearingsecnred to the sulky,and stands in a convenient position near the drivers seat,

` said lever being provided with the usual dog,

z', which engages with a semicircular rack, n, andy serves to hold the lever in its desired position. By throwing the upper or free end of the lever M rearward the chainsff' and crank-shaft I are caused to lift the rear end of the ,arms C, together with thefshaft B and sprocket-wheels d d, connected therewith.

Having described my invention, what I claim 1. In combination with the sulky, the digger K, suspended therefrom, and provided with the sprocket-wheels l and side b'ars, Z, the suspended bars a, adjustably connected to the sulky, and supporting the free end of the side bars, l, by gage irons b, the rearwardly extended as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

arms C, adjustably supported at their freeend, l

the shaft B, journaled on said arms, and provided with sprocket-wheels d d', endless chains e, connecting the sprocket -wheels d. d', and mechanism for transmitting motion from the traction-wheel to the shaft B, substantially as set forth and shown.

2. In combination with the sulky, the digger K, suspended therefrom, and provided with'the rearwardly-extended side bars., l l, the bars a,

suspended from the rear portion of the vsulky and supporting the free end of the side bars, Z, the push-bars L, extended from the foot of bars ct to the digger K, and the draft-chains c, extended from the bars a forward and connected with the double-tree, the whole constructed, combined, and operating to apply the power from the rear of the digger, substantially as specified and shown.

3. In combination with the sulkyand the digger K, provided with sprocket wheels d, the rearwardly-extended arms C, hung on the axle of the sulky, the shaft B, journaled on the free end of arms C, and provided with sprocketwheels d' and with gears D, the sprocket-wheel E, journaled on arm C, and provided with the pinion H, the sprocket-wheel F, secured to the axle of the sulky, the chain G, connecting sprocket-wheels F and E, and the-chains e,co-nnecting sprocket-wheels d d, all combined'and operating as shown and set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name and aftixed my seal, in the presence v of two attesting witnesses, at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, in the State of vNew York, this 2d day of December, ,1882.

l JAMns w.coox. [1.. s]

Witnesses:

J AMES CARPENTER, C. H. DUELL.

IOO

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